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OCEANWIDE EXPEDITIONS ANNOUNCES PLANS FOR TWO ECO-SAIL EXPEDITION CRUISE VESSELS
DETAIL INFORMATION
The Dutch firm Oceanwide Expeditions, an experienced operator of polar and expedition cruises, has entered into a Letter of Intent for the building and delivery of two eco-sailing expedition cruise vessels. The vessels with their distinctive appearance, depicted with three large masts in images, align with a movement in the expedition sector of the cruise industry that is leading the way in utilizing wind-assisted propulsion.
Limited information was given regarding the planned order, except that the two vessels would include a hybrid sail propulsion system. The company states that numerous sustainability-oriented elements will be incorporated into the design. It stated that information regarding the shipyard and the construction schedule would be shared once the contract is completed, and that promotion for the ships would begin in 2027.
The vessels anticipated to commence operations in 2029 and 2030 are reported to contribute to Oceanwide Expedition’s aim of fostering a sustainable future for eco-friendly polar tourism. The firm, active for more than 30 years, now possesses and runs a fleet of four expedition ships: s/v Rembrandt van Rijn, a three-masted schooner utilized for expedition cruising through the fjords of Greenland and Spitsbergen, along with the ice-enhanced vessels m/v Hondius, m/v Ortelius, and m/v Plancius, employed in both the Arctic and Antarctic regions.